Friday, May 19, 2006

JIM GIANNELL RUNNING FOR CHAIRMAN: HIDLAY SILENT SO FAR

Red Bank Boro GOP Chair Jim Giannell has announced his candidacy for County Chairman. Giannell is the leader of the Two Rivers Republican Conference, and has earned a reputation as a tireless and successful grass-roots operative. He is the president of New Markets Realty Inc., Red Bank.
Giannell has been called by some "The Kingmaker", a title he shuns, believing that any successes attributed to him are actually the result of a team effort. Recent examples of such successes include the election of Freeholder Anna Little to the unexpired term of Amy Handlin (Now an assemblywoman.), and the nominations of Lillian Burry and Andrew Lucas as freeholder candidates. Burry was elected last year; Lucas, with Little, will be on the general election ballot in November.

"I support (Asbury Park Press Editor) Skip Hidlay for County Chair, since everyone seems so interested in what the Asbury Park Press has to say. Let him deal with all of it."
...Former State Senate President John O. Bennett III

Bennett was being facetious, of course. His 2003 defeat by Democrat Ellen Kärcher has been attributed to a series of negative articles in the Press. Some may contend that the articles were correct; be that as it may, Bennett has a point.
While a pillar of a free press is to be critical of government and its officials, a watch-dog if you will, and politicians should be on their p's & q's lest their actions be reported negatively, it is not healthy to tailor all public policy simply for the satisfaction of any journal or journalist. At that point, the press becomes just another special interest group being pandered to.

Many other Republicans have been mentioned for the chairmanship, among them Mel Hood of Neptune Township, former Freeholder Ed Stominski of Eatontown, Middletown GOP Chairman Pete Carton, Millstone GOP Chairman Roger Staib, former assembly candidate Declan O'Scanlon, Holmdel Committeeman Terence Wall, lobbyist Madeline Ferraro, and former GOP State Committee Executive Director Brian Nelson; it seems the only one not interested is Howell Mayor Joe DiBella.

13 comments:

Art Gallagher said...

If this is a race at all it will be as Purcell as laid out, between Giannell and Carton.

Hood, Stominski, O'Scanlon and Wall will all line up behind Giannell. O'Scanlon and Wall aren't really candidates.

Giannell and Carton working together would unify the party, give us the stabilty we need, empower the rank and file and keep get us well funded.

If there is a battle between Giannell and Carton, its grass roots vs establishment. Both sides loose in that sceanario and Kramer will start looking for a portrait artist.

Honest Abe said...

William H Seward addressed...:
"...and Kramer will start looking for a portrait artist."

Well, Kramer's dead, so I guess Old Hickory will have to commission the portrait.
(Actually, there already is a portrait of Kramer in the Hall of Records, as he was a Freeholder Director.)

Teddy Roosevelt said...

Counter predictions
Carton will not run. He does not really want it and he an Giannell will make an accomadation between them.
Stominski will not back Giannell.
Staib and Oscanlon will back Gianell .
Mel Hood I do not know. As to Wall,who can predict anything about him.
Another horse backed by someone who does not like Giannell might still enter the race. Barring that it will be Gianell v. Stominski and Stominski will be crushed.

Art Gallagher said...

Honest Abe said...

"Well, Kramer's dead"

Oh yeah! And I bet you think that Karcher link is funny!

If she really looked that good I would vote for her!

Art Gallagher said...

TR,

Another wager?

Honest Abe said...

Kramer Hall gesprochen...

"OH- ja! Und ich wette, daß Sie denken, daß Kärcher Link lustig ist!"

Versuchen Sie die Ferraro Link.

Art Gallagher said...

Gerade was wir benötigen, ein anderes screamer!

Teddy Roosevelt said...

Mr. seward. What do you have in mind.

Art Gallagher said...

TR,

I bet Stominski doesn't run and backs Giannell. Same deal as last time.

Teddy Roosevelt said...

Nahh I won't take that bet . I hear now that Carton is joining an anti jim coalition that is going to run a dark horse candidate. its possible Stominski could come to his senses and back Jim.
This may be the bloodiest battle yet.
I hope a consensus candidate emerges that evryone can live with but that is a long shot at this point

Art Gallagher said...

Teddy Roosevelt said:

"I hear now that Carton is joining an anti jim coalition that is going to run a dark horse candidate. "

I hear that Giannell and Carton are meeting today. For the good of us all I hope they form a team.

Honest Abe said...

The best case scenario is for us to go into June 13th united behind a competent candidate and his team, get the reorganization overwith, and emerge united to defeat the Democrats in the fall.
If we continue squabbling, we end up like Bergen - bellied up to the bar, crying in our collective beers, and telling "remember when" stories.

Teddy Roosevelt said...

So did anyone hear how the Gianell-Carton meeting went?
Whats the scoop on the guy from millstone (Ithink he is the mayor) who I hear is running.

I like Giannel a lot but quite frankly I am beginning to wonder if he can bring the party together.
He seems to be to identified with a "faction". If elected I hope he works to overcome that.